Donald eyes Tour rethink to avoid ‘anti-climax’

Luke Donald has urged the European Tour to consider recalibrating the money list to avoid the sense of anti-climax that will be apparent at this week’s season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Nine days ago, world number one Rory McIlroy guaranteed he would end the year in top spot on the European money list and in doing so, the 23-year-old took much of the gloss off the showcase in Dubai.

Donald, second in the world rankings after his victory in last week’s Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan, believes officials must find a way to ensure there is a blockbuster finish to the season.

“This week is a little bit more of an anti-climax than the European Tour would probably want,” he said.

“The tour may want to think about adding a scenario where that doesn’t happen and incorporate either a play-off system or some other way to make sure that it goes down to the wire.”

Donald hailed McIlroy’s achievement in matching his double money-list triumph in 2012. “He’s had the best year of anyone,” the Englishman said. “What he’s done is an amazing achievement and hats off to him.”